| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | less than $30,000. According to auto maker |
| Hybrid cars have been getting a lot of buzz the last | | | | announcements there should be more than 50 models |
| three or four years, and now with the soaring cost | | | | available by 2010. As sales and production increase |
| of oil and gasoline, hybrids are expected to get | | | | the prices should not be significantly more than for |
| hotter than ever. Here are some Questions and | | | | standard ICE models. |
| Answers about hybrids. | | | | Even with the slightly higher average cost for a |
| 1. What is a hybrid car? | | | | hybrid -- usually around $3,000 -- these additional initial |
| A vehicle is a hybrid when it combines two or more | | | | costs can be offset by federal and state tax |
| sources of power. Hybrid cars almost always have a | | | | incentives, lower maintenance costs, and |
| gasoline engine and an auxiliary electric motor system | | | | exceptionally strong resale values. |
| that runs off rechargeable batteries. | | | | 6. Are hybrids small and underpowered? |
| We normally assume that the point of hybridization is | | | | Initial hybrid models emphasized fuel economy, so |
| to save fuel, and that is definitely the case with | | | | were much lighter vehicles, and had smaller engines. |
| most of the smaller compacts and sedans. But in fact | | | | The objective was to offset the loss of power in |
| some of the more upscale hybrid models are more | | | | the ICE with additional power from the electric |
| concerned with boosting power and "performance" | | | | motor. This would result in essentially the same level |
| without the usual loss in fuel efficiency. | | | | of power while burning less fuel. |
| 2. Do you have to plug your hybrid in at night? | | | | But this principle does not have to result in |
| You may assume because a hybrid car runs part of | | | | underpowered vehicles. In fact the Lexus Rx400h |
| the time off its battery pack, that it is necessary to | | | | and Toyota Highlander Hybrid both have a 270 |
| plug it in at night and recharge the batteries (like a | | | | horsepower power system. And the Lexus GS 450h |
| golf cart!). But this is almost never the case. Hybrid | | | | hybrid sedan is expected to have more than 300 |
| cars recharge their batteries "on the fly" by making | | | | horsepower and go 0-to-60 in less than six seconds. |
| use of unused energy which is normally wasted | | | | Taking the quest for hybrid power even further, the |
| during normal driving. | | | | Toyota Volta concept venicle has a 408 hp power |
| For instance, most have a system that captures | | | | plant. |
| some of the energy used while applying the brakes, | | | | 7. What is the main reason people buy hybrid |
| and converts it to electrical energy to charge the | | | | vehicles? |
| battery. This is called "regenerative braking". | | | | Saving money on fuel is the first thing most buyers |
| If hybrids had larger battery packs that you could | | | | think of. But, in fact, the amount saved on fuel over |
| plug into the electricity grid, they would be able to | | | | the life of the vehicle may not equal the extra |
| transfer more of the vehicle's power requirements | | | | purchase cost of the hybrid. |
| over to the electric motor(s), and use even less | | | | There are obviously other factors at play in the |
| gasoline. But most auto makers have been unwilling | | | | gradually building popularity of hybrids. Some people |
| to go this route, arguing that today's batteries could | | | | want to make a "green" statement, others simply |
| not take the extra load and more extensive usage. | | | | want to be the first on the block with a new and |
| 3. Do you have to replace the batteries? | | | | promising technology. |
| The short answer is No. Hybrid batteries typically | | | | 8. Will hybrid technology save the environment? |
| have an 80,000 - 100,000 mile warranty. The U.S. | | | | There's no doubt about it. Hybrids are becoming |
| Department of Energy tested them to 160,000 miles | | | | more popular. In the past five years hybrid sales in |
| and stopped testing because they still performed | | | | the U.S. have grown 2000 percent. Sales in 2000 |
| almost like they were brand new. Some taxi drivers | | | | were 9,500, and by the end of 2005 had grown to |
| have gone more than 200,000 miles in a Toyota Prius | | | | over 200,000. |
| without battery problems. | | | | But even this larger number is just 1.2% of the 17 |
| In any event, since hybrid battery packs have | | | | million new cars sold last year. If every hybrid gave |
| hundreds of cells, individual cells or modules could be | | | | double the current fuel economy, from an average |
| replaced if there was a problem. | | | | of 20 mpg to, say, 40 mpg, that would save roughly |
| The best way to keep nickel metal hydride batteries | | | | 100,000 gallons of gasoline a day. But that amount |
| performing at their peak is to keep their charge | | | | pales in comparison to the total daily gasoline |
| between 40% and 60% -- never fully charged and | | | | consumption in the U.S. -- 400 million gallons! The |
| never fully drained to zero power. | | | | savings of 100,000 gallons would bring that number all |
| 4. How long have hybrids been around? | | | | the way down to ... 399,900,000 gallons. |
| Alternatives to the ICE (internal combustion engine) in | | | | Not very significant. Obviously governments and auto |
| automobiles have been around since at least 1900. | | | | makers will have to start getting very serious about |
| The first patent for a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle | | | | hybrid technology before it will make a significant |
| was filed in 1905. Alternative fuel sources were wiped | | | | difference. |
| out as a result of two things. First was the | | | | 9. Does that mean hybrid technology is only a fad? |
| development of the electric self-starter (in 1913) that | | | | No it does not. Because the only way towards a |
| made gasoline driven cars much easier to start. | | | | sustainable future is to find a combination of fuels |
| The second development was the advent of the age | | | | that will reduce our almost total dependence on oil. |
| of cheap oil that started around the time of the first | | | | Hydrogen fueled vehicles will be part of that future, |
| World War. This completely removed the economic | | | | as will fuel cells, deisel, and alternative fuels such as |
| incentive to look for alternative fuel sources. This is | | | | ethanol. |
| only starting to change now, 80 years later. | | | | But what is almost certain is that every promising |
| 5. Are hybrids expensive to purchase? | | | | solution will involve some kind of hybrid combination |
| In January, 2006, there were 10 different hybrid | | | | of technologies. So today's hybrid vehicles are an |
| models available from $19,000 to $53,000. The most | | | | important and necessary step towards a much more |
| popular models -- the Insight, Civic, and Prius -- are | | | | promising and sustainable future. |